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A letter from Mrs. Connolly was laid before Congress, and read: Resolved, That it be referred to the committee of safety of Pennsylvania, and that it be recommended to said committee, to make proper provision for Mrs. Connolly, till farther order of Congress.

Resolved, That the commanding officer of the military associators of Philadelphia, be directed not to order captain Peters out of the city, as his service and attendance is necessary in the war-office.

Resolved, That the post-masters, while in office, be excused from all military duty.

A letter of the 4th from the convention of Maryland, enclosing resolutions for raising three thousand four hundred men for the flying-camp, was received and read:

Resolved, That major-general Gates be informed, that it was the intention of Congress to give him the command of the troops whilst in Canada, but that they had no design to vest him with a superior command to general Schuyler, whilst the troops should be on this side Canada; and that the president write to major-general Schuyler and major-general Gates, stating this matter, and recommending to them to carry on the military operations with harmony, and in such manner as shall best promote the public service:

That a copy of the foregoing resolution be transmitted to general Washington.

The committee of safety of Pennsylvania, having recommended Daniel Burkhard, George Hubley, Jacob Bunner and Benjamin Weiser, to be captains of the four companies of Germans to be raised in that state,

Resolved, That they be approved, and that commissions be granted to them accordingly.

The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That general Washington be vested with discretionary power to call to his assistance, at New-York, such of the continental regiments in the Massachusetts-Bay, as have not already received orders to march to Ticonderoga; and that the general court of that state be requested to supply their places with militia, if they think it expedient:

That the commissary general have full power to supply both armies, that upon the lakes as well as that at New-York; and also to appoint and employ such persons under him, and to remove any deputy-commissary, as he shall judge proper and expedient; it being absolutely necessary, that the supply of both armies should be under one direction.

The Congress then proceeded to the election of a deputy quarter-master general for the flying camp; and, the ballots being taken,

Clement Biddle was elected deputy quarter-master general for the flyingcamp, and for the militia of Pennsylvania and New-Jersey, ordered to reňdezvous at Trenton.

Resolved, That to-morrow be assigned for the election of a deputy mustermaster general for the flying camp and militia aforesaid.

Resolved, That the committee for providing medicines, be directed to supply the militia aforesaid, with a sufficient quantity of suitable medicines.

Resolved, That an order for 60,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of the delegates of Georgia, for the use of the continental battalions; the state of Georgia to be accountable.

Resolved, That general Washington be empowered to appoint suitable places of rendezvous for the new battalions raising for Canada, and communicate the same to the assemblies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Connecticut and New-York; also, to issue his orders for supplying the men with rations, tents, a month's pay advance, and other necessaries.

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RHODES

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Resolved, That Mr. Mease be directed to advance one month's pay to such of the militia as will engage to serve in the flying camp.

Resolved, That an order for 5000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of Mr. George Evans, contractor for supplying the Delaware battalion; he to be acconntable.

A letter of the 5th, from the committee of safety of Delaware government, with sundry papers enclosed, was laid before Congress, and read:

Resolved, That the same be referred to the delegates of Maryland and Delaware.

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, July 9, 1776.

The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Abraham Sheppard be appointed captain, Samuel Finley, first lieutenant, William Killey, second lieutenant, Henry Bidinger, third lieutenant, of the Virginia rifle company: and that the delegates of Virginia be empowered to write to the several county committees in that state, where they think it most proper and probable for the men to be raised, requesting the said committees to recommend officers for the appointment of Congress, to fill up colonel Stevenson's regiment; the officers so recommended, to have power immediately to inlist their men, and commissions to be sent them as soon as possible, and that 7000 dollars be paid into the lands of colonel Stevenson, for bounty money, and other regimental expenses:

That a farther sum of 5000 dollars be paid into the hands of said colonel Stevenson, and 2,500 dollars to the delegates of Maryland, for the use of the said regiment; they to be accountable.

Resolved, That Mr. Palfrey, late aid-de-camp of general Washington, have the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the continental army.

The Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy muster-master general for the flying camp, and militia ordered to rendezvous at Trenton; and, the ballots being taken,

Jonathan B. Smith was elected.

Resolved, That an order for 10,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of the committee of secret correspondence, for the purchase of two vessels; they to be accountable.

The committee to whom the petition of William Poole was referred, brought in their report: Whereupon,

Resolved, That twenty dollars be paid to the said William Poole for his present support, till regulations are made for the relief of disabled soldiers. Resolved, That the Rev. Mr. Duche be appointed chaplain to Congress, and that he be desired to attend every morning at 9 o'clock.

Resolved, That the committee of safety of Pennsylvania release Allan McDonald, of Kingsborough, a prisoner in the gaol of Philadelphia, on his parole, and that, upon signing the parole, he be treated agreeable to former resolutions of Congress.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to settle a cartel for exchange of prisoners:

The members chosen, Mr. Braxton, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Harrison. Resolved, That such of the militia as are employed in making gun-locks, and such as are employed in making cannon and powder, be detained from marching on the present occasion to New-Jersey.

Resolved, That five of the committee, appointed to enquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada, be a quorum to proceed to business.

The committee on the treasury, to whom the claims of John Walker and Willie Jones, esqrs. commissioners for Indian affairs in the southern department, were referred, reported, that there is due,

To John Walker, esq. for 139 days he was employed in the southern department, at the rate of 4 dollars a day, 556 dollars :

To Willie Jones, esq. for his expenses attending Indian affairs at Salisbury, and travelling to sundry places, 250 dollars, and for 95 days on duty, at 4 dollars a day, 380 dollars:

Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.

A memorial from Ludwick Karcher, was presented to Congress, and read: Resolved, That it be referred to the board of war.

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, July 10, 1776.

Resolved, That one month's pay be advanced to the militia of Pennsylvania, ordered to march to Trenton, the same to be paid after the men are mustered.

That Mr. J. Mease be directed to deliver to Mr. C. Biddle, the deputy quarter-master general for the flying-camp, and militia, such tents, and other articles as he has belonging to the continent, and which may be wanted for the militia and flying-camp.

The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the committee of Lancaster be empowered and directed, to keep a guard over the prisoners, in the barracks of that borough, and to surround the said barracks with a stockade fort:

That the privates who are prisoners in the town of Reading, be removed to the borough of Lancaster.

A letter from Ephraim Anderson was laid before Congress, and read: Resolved, That the president write to general Washington on the subject, enclosing Mr. Anderson's letter, and that Mr. Anderson be referred to the general.

The committee appointed to draw up rules and orders for the government of the house, brought in their report, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

The standing committee for Indian affairs, brought in a report, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That the committee for providing medicines, be directed to furnish Dr. Allison with a set of instruments, and that the director-general supply him with proper medicines.

The committee, to whom the cartel, between brigadier-general Arnold and captain Foster, and the several papers thereto relating, were recommitted, brought in their report, which was read as follows:

That, having made diligent enquiry into the facts, they find, that a party of 390 continental troops, under the command of colonel Bedel, was posted at the Cedars, about forty-three miles above Montreal; that they had there formed some works of defence, the greater part of them picketed lines, the rest a breast-work of earth, with two field pieces mounted :

That, on Wednesday the 15th of May, colonel Bedel received intelligence, that a party of the enemy, consisting of about 600 regulars, Canadians and Indians, were on their way to attack his post, and were then within nine miles of it that colonel Bedel, thereon, set out himself for Montreal, to procure a reinforcement; whereupon, the command of the Cedars devolved on major Butterfield:

That, on Thursday, a reinforcement, under the command of major Sherburne, marched from Montreal for the Cedars, while a larger detachment should be getting ready to proceed thither with brigadier-general Arnold:

That, on Friday the 17th, the enemy, under the command of captain Foster, invested the post at the Cedars, and, for two days, kept up a loose, scattering

fire; that major Butterfield proposed, from the very first, to surrender the post, and refused repeated solicitations from his officers and men, to permit them to sally out on the enemy:

That, on Sunday afternoon, a flag being sent in by the enemy, major Butterfield agreed to surrender the fort and garrison to captain Foster, capitulating with him, whether verbally or in writing does not appear, that the garrison should not be put into the hands of the savages, and that their baggage should not be plundered:

That, at the time of the surrender, the enemy consisted of about 40 regulars, 100 Canadians, and 500 Indians, and no cannon; the garrison had sustained no injury from their fire, but the having one man wounded; they had twenty rounds of cartridges a man, thirty rounds for one field-piece, five for another, half a barrel of gun-powder, fifteen pounds of musket-ball, and provisions sufficient to have lasted them twenty or thirty days: major Butterfield knew that a reinforcement was on its way, and moreover, was so near the main body of the army, that he could not doubt of being supported by that:

That, immediately on the surrender, the garrison was put into the custody of the savages, who plundered them of their baggage, and even stripped them of their clothes;

That major Sherburne, having landed on Monday the 20th, at Quinze Chenes, about nine miles from the Cedars, and marched on with his party, consisting then of 100 men, to within four miles thereof, was there attacked by about 500 of the enemy: that he maintained his ground about an hour, and then, being constrained to retreat, performed the same in good order, receiving and returning a constant fire for about forty minutes; when the enemy, finding means to post advanced parties in such a manner as to intercept his farther retreat, they also were made prisoners of war:

That they were immediately put into the custody of the savages, carried to where major Butterfield and his party were, and stripped of their baggage and wearing apparel:

That two of them were put to death that evening, four or five others at different times, afterwards; one of whom was of those who surrendered on capitulation at the Cedars, and was killed on the 8th day after that surrender; that one was first shot, and, while retaining life and sensation, was roasted, as was related by his companion, now in possession of the savages, who himself saw the fact; and that several others, being worn down by famine and cruelty, were left exposed in an island naked, and perishing with cold and hunger:

That, while major Sherburne was in custody of the enemy, captain Foster required of him, and the other officers, to sign a cartel, stipulating the exchange of themselves and their men for as many, of equal condition, of the British troops in our possession; farther, that notwithstanding the exchange, neither themselves nor men should ever again bear arms against the British government; and for the performance of this, four hostages were to be delivered, which, they being under the absolute power of the enemy, did sign:

That on Sunday, the 26th, the prisoners were carried to Quinze Chenes, when it was discovered that general Arnold was approaching, and making dispositions to attack them:

That captain Foster, having desired major Sherburne to attend a flag, which he was about to send to general Arnold, for confirmation of the cartel, carried him into the council of Indians, then sitting, who told him that it was a mercy never before shewn in their wars, that they had put to death so few of the pri soners; but that he must expect, and so inform general Arnold, that they should certainly kill every man who should thereafter fall into their hands:

That captain Foster joined in desiring that this bloody message should be delivered to general Arnold; and moreover, that he should be notified, that if he rejected the cartel, and attacked him, every man of the prisoners would be put to instant death:

That general Arnold was extremely averse from entering into any agreement, and was at length induced to do it by no other motive than that of saving the prisoners from cruel and inhuman death, threatened in such terms as left no doubt it was to be perpetrated, and that he did at length conclude it, after several flags received from captain Foster, and a relinquishment by him of the unequal article restraining our soldiers from again bearing arms:

That the prisoners, so stipulated to be given up to the enemy, were not in the possession of general Arnold, nor under his direction, but were, at that time, distributed in various parts of the continent, under the orders of this house:

That four hostages were accordingly delivered to captain Foster, who were immediately plundered and stripped by the savages; and on his part, were delivered one major, four captains, sixteen subalterns, and three hundred and fifty-five privates, as specified in a certificate of captain James Osgood and others, of whom no specification by their names or numbers has yet been transmitted; that he retained twelve Canadians, alleging in his justification, express orders so to do; and that, living in a military government, they were to be considered even in a worse light than deserters from his majesty's armies; these he carried away in irons, but afterwards released: that he permitted the Indians to carry into their countries several other natives of the United States, for purposes un

known:

That, during the time of their captivity, not half food was allowed the prisoners; they were continually insulted, buffeted, and ill treated by the savages; and when the first parties of them were carried off from the shore to be delivered to general Arnold, balls of mud were fired at them, and at the last parties, musket balls.

The Congress, taking into consideration the foregoing report, came to the following resolutions :

Resolved, That all acts contrary to good faith, the laws of nature, or the customs of civilized nations, done by the officers or soldiers of his Britannic majesty, or by foreigners or savages taken into his service, are to be considered as done by his orders, unless indemnification be made, in cases which admit indemnification, and in all other cases, unless immediate and effective measures be taken by him, or by his officers, for bringing to condign punishment the authors, abettors, and perpetrators of the act:

That the plundering the baggage of the garrison at the Cedars, stripping them of their clothes, and delivering them into the hands of the savages, was a breach of the capitulation on the part of the enemy, for which indemnification ought to be demanded :

That the murder of the prisoners of war was a gross and inhuman violation of the laws of nature and nations: that condign punishment should be inflicted on the authors, abettors, and perpetrators of the same; and that, for this purpose, it be required that they be delivered into our hands:

That the agreement entered into by general Arnold was a mere sponsion on his part, he not being invested with powers for the disposal of prisoners not in his possession, nor under his direction; and that, therefore, it is subject to be ratified or annulled, at the discretion of this house :

That the shameful surrender of the post at the Cedars is chargeable on the commanding officer: that such other of the prisoners as were taken there, shewed a willingness and desire to fight the enemy; and that major Sherburne, and the prisoners taken with him, though their disparity of numbers was great, fought the enemy bravely for a considerable time, and surrendered at last but on absolute necessity: on which consideration, and on which alone, it is resolved, that the said sponsion be ratified; and that an equal number of captives from the enemy, of the same rank and condition, be restored to them, as stipulated by the said sponsion:

That, previous to the delivery of the prisoners to be returned on our part, the British commander in Canada be required to deliver into our hands the au

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